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5 Zhu With right rim
| Issuer | China (ancient) |
|---|---|
| Year | 581-585 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Round with a square hole |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | 銖五 (Translation: Wu Zhu 5 Zhu) |
| Reverse description | Uniface reverse presenting a plain, flat field with no inscriptions, symbols, or decorative elements. A raised square inner rim borders the central square perforation, and a broad raised outer rim defines the coin's edge. The surface bears an even green-brown patina typical of cast bronze coins of the Sui dynasty period. |
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| Additional information |
The Sui dynasty's early coinage is among the more administratively fraught in Chinese numismatic history. When Emperor Wen unified the fragmented northern and southern kingdoms after 581, he inherited a monetary system polluted by centuries of debased, clipped, and privately cast cash coins. His early 5 zhu issues attempted to restore weight standards, but inconsistent provincial casting meant quality varied considerably across mints.
The "right rim" designation distinguishes this type by the orientation of a casting fin remnant or specific rim treatment — a detail that matters to specialists sorting Sui transitional issues, where minor die and mold distinctions are the primary tools for sequencing an otherwise sparsely documented series.